In the aftermath of what is being called the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history, New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns reportedly stunned teammates and insiders alike with a nickname for OG Anunoby’s game-winning tip-in that sources say could redefine how this series is remembered.
With 5.9 seconds left on the clock and the Knicks trailing by one, Jalen Brunson launched a desperate 30-footer over San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. The shot missed — but Anunoby, according to those close to the team, read the play like a chess grandmaster, crashing the boards and tipping the ball in with a split-second decision that one unnamed assistant coach called ‘the most insane play I’ve ever seen in a Finals game.’ The basket capped a 29-point comeback, the largest in NBA Finals history, and sent Madison Square Garden into a frenzy.
After the game, Towns allegedly gathered the team in the locker room and, according to a source who was present, called the play ‘The Right Hand of God.’ The nickname, insiders say, instantly caught fire among players and staff. ‘He gave us a chance to win, and that’s all you can ask for from the best two-way player in the NBA,’ Towns reportedly said, according to a team insider.
Anunoby’s performance in Game 4 has been described by one league executive as ‘potentially series-altering.’ He finished with 33 points on 10-of-15 shooting, along with four rebounds, a steal, and a chasedown block on Fox with 10 seconds left that one analyst called ‘the defensive play of the postseason.’ Critics are now buzzing about whether this single game cements Anunoby as the Knicks’ true playoff anchor — even more than Brunson or Towns.
Coming off 28 points in Game 3, where he nearly saved the Knicks with a late triple before Stephon Castle answered, Anunoby has reportedly been putting in extra film sessions with the coaching staff, sources say. ‘He’s been locked in like nobody else,’ one team source told us. ‘The guy doesn’t get enough credit for holding this thing together while everybody else is struggling to find their rhythm.’
With the Knicks heading back to San Antonio for Game 5 and a chance to capture their first championship since 1973, speculation is rampant about whether Anunoby can deliver another signature moment. ‘Closeout games are the hardest,’ a longtime NBA scout told us. ‘But if anyone in that locker room can handle the pressure, it’s the guy who just pulled off a miracle with his right hand.’ Fans and insiders alike are left wondering: could this be the game that finally gives OG Anunoby the national recognition he’s long deserved?
Leave a Comment